Domestic violence, which inevitably is gender based, is a pattern of assault and coercive behavior. It can be physical, sexual and psychological, by a person against his or her own intimate partner. However, women and children are more frequently the victims. Physical abuse and rape are the most common forms of such violence. As defined by the European Union ‘sexual gender based violence (SGBV)’ is: any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.
SGBV occurs in both private and public spheres. It cuts across age, colour, creed, political affiliation and economic, social or political status, and occurs in almost all geographical locations. In another dimension, the most vulnerable are those with physical, mental or other challenges, but the bottom line is that everyone (particularly women and children) are potential victims of some form of violence.
Patriarchy creates gender inequality resulting in women’s subordination as well as causing conflict in families. These inequalities also extend to the access to resources. Throughout the world women have lower incomes than men and limited access to fixed assets such as land and other forms of property that could be used for income generation. Patriarchal practices are embedded in public, political and family-based decision-making practices in socio-legal systems and in inheritance customs. Many of these patriarchal practices are related to SGBV.
A classical analysis is still valid. The analysis divides gender activities into instrumental (production roles; production of goods and services) for man and expressive (reproduction roles, child-bearing and -rearing, emotional support, etc.) for women. The key criticism leveled against this perspective is that it does not acknowledge conflict and competition within domestic settings and overemphasizes the complementary nature of the gender division.
However, gender division of labour perpetuates men’s control over women’s labour, particularly with regard to social reproduction (child-bearing and child-rearing) and domestic ‘duties’ for family.
SGBV occurs in both private and public spheres. It cuts across age, colour, creed, political affiliation and economic, social or political status, and occurs in almost all geographical locations. In another dimension, the most vulnerable are those with physical, mental or other challenges, but the bottom line is that everyone (particularly women and children) are potential victims of some form of violence.
Patriarchy creates gender inequality resulting in women’s subordination as well as causing conflict in families. These inequalities also extend to the access to resources. Throughout the world women have lower incomes than men and limited access to fixed assets such as land and other forms of property that could be used for income generation. Patriarchal practices are embedded in public, political and family-based decision-making practices in socio-legal systems and in inheritance customs. Many of these patriarchal practices are related to SGBV.
A classical analysis is still valid. The analysis divides gender activities into instrumental (production roles; production of goods and services) for man and expressive (reproduction roles, child-bearing and -rearing, emotional support, etc.) for women. The key criticism leveled against this perspective is that it does not acknowledge conflict and competition within domestic settings and overemphasizes the complementary nature of the gender division.
However, gender division of labour perpetuates men’s control over women’s labour, particularly with regard to social reproduction (child-bearing and child-rearing) and domestic ‘duties’ for family.
- At the personal or household level, inequality involves emotional abuse, threats and actual use of physical force.
- At the societal and community levels, tradition, culture and religion reinforce the injustice of discrimination and exploitation of women and rationalize it as a national state of affairs.
- At state level, women are denied equal citizenship, civil, political and, very significantly, economic equality.
